John Kuntz / The Plain DealerJake Delhomme, shown here after getting sacked in the opener against Tampa Bay, practiced for the first time since then on Thursday. His status for Sunday's game against Cincinnati is uncertain.

BEREA, Ohio — Jake Delhomme joined his teammates on the practice field Thursday for the first time since suffering a high ankle sprain in the season opener on Sept. 12.

Coach Eric Mangini said Delhomme would be limited at practice. Physically, Delhomme also looked limited. In the locker room, he limped slightly without the walking boot immobilizing his right ankle.

Prior to practicing, Delhomme expressed frustration with the injury that has kept him inactive for three weeks and two games and was cautious about predicting when he would be able to play.

"It's coming (along)," Delhomme said. "We've been following a plan in the trainer's room, trusting them. It's uncommon for me, an ankle injury.

"I did not (have any idea). I knew something was bothering me (in the Tampa Bay game), but the adrenaline kind of just takes over. I didn't think it would be this. It's been very frustrating. I don't think there's any doubt."

Besides the uncertainty of the ankle's stability, Delhomme has to work off the rust of not taking snaps, throwing to receivers and practicing a game plan for three weeks.

Asked if he thought he could play Sunday against Cincinnati, Delhomme said: "We'll see. I'm not sure. Today's today, that's all I can say."

Mangini said that Delhomme would return to his starting job when healthy. He wouldn't rule him out for Sunday's game, but the coach said the same thing the weeks of the Kansas City and Baltimore games.

In Delhomme's place, Seneca Wallace has produced an 86.2 rating in two games, but the Browns lost by two and seven points as they were unable to produce offensively with chances to win in the fourth quarter.

"I have confidence in both guys," Mangini said. "My expectation is that Seneca, should he play, will do a really good job, and if Jake plays he'll do a really good job. But Jake is the starting quarterback and when he's healthy he'll start again."

If Wallace lights it up against Cincinnati, Delhomme would still return if healthy.

"Based on the body of work that we had, I felt Jake gave us the best chance to win, not taking anything away from Seneca at all," Mangini said. "It's a decision I made . . . we made . . . and then Jake got hurt (in Game 1). It wasn't performance-based. I can't answer the hypotheticals (if Wallace has a big game vs. Cincinnati)."

After the Bengals, the Browns play host to the Atlanta Falcons, an NFC South team with which Delhomme is very familiar.

The finish line: Linebacker Scott Fujita, one of the defensive captains, issued a rather blunt assessment of what the Browns have to do to win a game.

"I don't think you ever prepare yourself to be sitting here at 0-3," he said. "That being said, I like a lot of what we do. I think we're close. To put together three solid first halves is encouraging.

"We just have to learn to finish games. Until we can do that, we're not going to win a game. It's as simple as that."

It's unanimous: After an informational meeting with players union leader DeMaurice Smith on Wednesday, the Browns voted unanimously in favor of decertifying as a union.

If the ongoing NFL labor dispute is not settled by March 3, the union intends to disband. That strategy would intercept the owners' intent to lock the players out in 2011, the union believes. It also would enable the players to file an anti-trust lawsuit against the owners, if it comes to that.

The Browns also elected four player representatives, which is twice the usual number. The union reps are tight end Robert Royal, tight end Benjamin Watson, cornerback Sheldon Brown and offensive tackle Tony Pashos.

Chuck Crow / The Plain DealerLinebacker Marcus Benard, who missed the Baltimore game with an ankle injury, says he will play against Cincinnati. His return is expected to boost the Browns' struggling pass rush.

Pass rusher sighted: The Browns' dormant pass rush should get a boost with the return of linebacker Marcus Benard. For an undrafted guy who worked so hard to get on the field in the first place, sitting out the Baltimore game with an ankle injury was excruciating.

O-line still not set: Mangini was pleased with the performance of right tackle Pashos in relief of John St. Clair (ankle) in the Baltimore game. Now with rookie guard Shawn Lauvao back at practice this week after his own ankle injury, might we finally see the projected Lauvao-Pashos starting tandem on the right side?

Not so fast, my friend.

Mangini said Lauvao looked "pretty good" in practice, but he'll need time to regain the right guard spot.

"There's been a (month) since he's played last, so he has to get back into a rhythm," Mangini said. "Today he'll get some more reps and we'll get a better feel for where he is after today and tomorrow. He's feeling his way back into it."

Brownie points: Players sitting out again were defensive linemen Kenyon Coleman (knee), Shaun Rogers (hip, ankle) and Robaire Smith (back); linebacker Jason Trusnik (head); offensive tackle John St. Clair (ankle); and defensive back Derrick Roberson (hip). Mangini said he expects all back on Friday, with the exception of St. Clair. . . . On Wednesday, running back Jerome Harrison expressed frustration about not knowing his role. Mangini responded, "His role is to go in and to carry the ball when he's asked to carry the ball and do it effectively, and protect the football. I haven't talked to him about that. I'd be happy to talk to any player about their role at any point and I'm here every day."

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